Apr 18 • Noah Lantz & Michael Wood

Free Toolbox Talk for Gutter Contractors: Overhead Power Line Awareness

In this powerful Toolbox Talk, Michael Wood of Wood & Wood Seamless Gutters shares the tragic story of losing two employees—his own family members—to an avoidable electrical hazard on a jobsite. What began as a routine gutter installation turned catastrophic when an exposed high-voltage line, mistaken for a harmless cable wire, resulted in a fatal accident. Michael reflects on the lasting impact of that day, the heartbreaking aftermath, and the importance of verifying that all utility protections are in place—never assuming someone else did their job. This talk is a sobering reminder that safety isn’t just a checklist.

“Still to this day, we'll never forget the smell, the smell of burning flesh, the rubber...the electricity went right through their shoes, right into the ground, passed right through them." -Michael Wood

RGA Members get access to a growing library of 50+ safety talks for gutter crews. The following is a powerful "toolbox talk" surrounding a real life incident relayed by a gutter contractor. It's intended to be read aloud to a gutter crew. 

RGA Toolbox Talk #54, Overhead Power Line Awareness

When we pull onto a job site, we’re thinking about the task at hand—gutters, ladders, layout, material. But sometimes, it’s what we’re not thinking about that becomes the biggest danger. Overhead wires, especially ones that look like harmless cable lines, can turn a simple job into a life-or-death situation.

This is a hard story. But it's one worth remembering—because it could save a life.

Case Study
Michael Wood, Wood & Wood Seamless Gutters, Marlborough, CT.

Michael Wood had been running his company for about five years. Young, hardworking, still figuring things out. His team was hired as subcontractors to install gutters on a large apartment complex—20 to 30 buildings, roofs already done, siding going up. His crew would come in a few times a week to get things buttoned up with new gutters and downspouts.

One morning, like any other, Michael and his team were wrapping up one building and prepping materials for the next. The two workers were related to each other-cousins.  They were laughing, smiling—walked past him, ladders on their shoulders, ready to move on. Moments later, everything changed.

One of his workers came sprinting toward him, panicked. Michael turned and heard the words you never want to hear:

“They hit a wire.”
“They’re stuck to the ladder.”

Both men had unknowingly walked under a high-voltage power line—a line so low it looked like an old coaxial cable. The aluminum ladder made contact. The electricity surged through the ladder, through them, and into the ground. Michael described the smell in a call with the Rain Gutter Association.

“Still to this day, we'll never forget the smell, the smell of burning flesh, the rubber...the electricity went right through their shoes, right into the ground, passed right through them.”

He remembered the silence after. Both men died that day.

And here’s the worst part: the contractor that hired them had requested the utility company cover the lines. They said they would. But they ran out of material and left some lines exposed. Well, no one followed up. The wires were left exposed. And two men paid the price.

The Aftermath

Lawsuits followed. Insurance companies pointed fingers. The utility company was found liable in the end. But that didn’t bring back Tony and Eli.

Years later, Michael was asked to return to that same complex for more gutter work.

 The wires? Still uncovered. The hazard? Still there. Nothing had changed. Even after a fatal incident. 

Needless to say: Michael refused to do the job.

What We Learn from This

Michael still calls the family. He still tells this story to every new hire. Because he knows now what he didn’t know then:

  • Don’t forget to look up when placing ladders. It’s too easy to forget that it’s not always the ground the ladder is standing on that can lead to a dangerous situation. If the ladder is simply touching a power line, or even just something that can conduct electricity, it can kill you.
  • Always scan for power lines—especially ones that don’t look dangerous.
  • Don’t assume someone else handled it. Confirm it yourself.
  • Speak up. If wires aren’t covered, stop the job. Call the utility.
  • If you're unsure whether if a wire is live—assume it is.
  • Use a non-conductive ladder (fiberglass or wood) when working near (within 10ft, but no less than than 6ft) of wires.

The Takeaway

You can do 10,000 jobs without incident. But it only takes one oversight to change everything. Michael was early in his business when this happened, and he’ll never forget it. Neither should we.

Before you lift a ladder today, look up. Check the lines. And if something feels off, it probably is.

Stay alert. Stay alive.

Shared with permission from Michael Wood. In memory of Tony and Eli.
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